Deactivation processes of highly excited atomic nitrogen, N(2p23p2S)

Rate constants for the deactivation of N(2p(2)3p S-2) by rare gas atoms and simple molecules were determined. N(2p(2)3p S-2) was produced by two-photon excitation of N(2p(3) D-2) which was produced by the two-photon dissociation of NO. Fluorescence at 149 nm after cascading to N(2p(2)3s P-2) was monitored to determine the decay rate of N(2p(2)3p S-2). Except for He and Ne, the rate constants are large, especially for molecular species. For Ar, one of the main exit channels is the production of N(2p(2)3s P-2). The production efficiency is 26 +/- 3%. Such a channel could not be identified for other quenchers. The cross-sections for the quenching by molecular species can be correlated to the long-range interaction parameters.